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Two Accounts for the Chapel of René of Anjou (1449–54)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 2020
Extract
René of Anjou (1409–80) was a major figure in the French royal family in the fifteenth century. He inherited some of his titles and lands from his brother Louis III, held previously by his father Louis II and grandfather Louis I (the second son of John II, King of France). But marriage and politics had also increased the wealth and power of the Angevins, adding to the Dukedom of Anjou the Dukedoms of Lorraine and of Bar, the County of Provence, the Kingdoms of Sicily and of Naples, and the title of King of Jerusalem. In the later phases of the Anglo-French conflicts of the fifteenth century René initially supported the Anglo-Burgundian alliance, but later (by 16 July 1429) he transferred his allegiance to the French crown. Captured by the Burgundians at the Battle of Bulgneville on 2 July 1431, he was held prisoner at Dijon until 1437. He was granted provisional liberty between 1432 and 1434, and again in 1435, and was finally released in 1437 after payment of a large ransom.
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References
Notes
1 This work has been taken from my dissertation, ‘The Foundation and Early History of the Chapel of René, Duke of Anjou (c1440-c1460)', submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music (Historical Musicology), Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, September 1990. I would like to thank Dr Andrew Wathey for his support and suggestions both during the work towards my MMus and during the preparation of this work. Dr David Fallows of Manchester University and Dr Mike Routledge of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College both read the text and made valuable suggestions for which I am grateful. I would also like to thank Frazer-Nash NDT Limited of Radcliffe, Manchester for financial support during the period of study towards this work.Google Scholar
2 Louis III died on 12 November 1434.Google Scholar
3 René married Isabelle of Lorraine. Her father Charles II of Lorraine disinherited his nephew Antoine de Vaudemont on 13 January 1425, recognising instead Isabelle, his eldest daughter, as heiress. Isabelle inherited in 1430 on the death of her father. See Gain, A., Histoire de Lorraine, Société Lorraine des études locales dans l'enseignement publique (Nancy, 1939), 139. René's uncle, Cardinal Louis, Duke of Bar, adopted René as his heir (ibid., 138).Google Scholar
4 A form of tax of the provinces.Google Scholar
5 A. Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits des comptes et mémoriaux du roi René pour servir à l'histoire des arts au XVe siècle. Documents historiques publiés par la société de l'ecole des chartes, 1 (Paris, 1873).Google Scholar
6 For a full transcription of these two documents, see below.Google Scholar
7 The tabliers of Moustiers, Tharascon, Tholon, Dyeres, Digne, Bregnolles, Saint Maximi, Bariolz, Draguignan, Grace, Saint Paoul, Guilleres, Castellanne, Sene, Colomars, Sisteron, Fourcalquier, Dapt and Daix are listed in FFr 8588. The tabliers are not listed in detail in KK 245.Google Scholar
8 A Guillem Guillemart, Hacquinet de Roddes, Pieret Barbier, et Jehan de Montigny, chantres, le xxve jour audit moys, treize livres quinze solz à eulx ordonnez par ledit seigneur, pour considération de la despence que ils forent, allant de Launay à Rillé, en Anjou, où icelluy seigneur les manda aller devers luy, puis de là à Langeais et de Langeais à Tours, tant en louaige de cinq chevaulx pour eux et ung leur serviteur, pour leur despense de bouche et desdits chévaulx, par neuf jours entiers, que ils firent oudit voiage, que aussi pour vestemens nécessaires à jouer certaines farses que ledit seigneur leur fist jouer devant la reineGoogle Scholar
xiii lxvsGoogle Scholar
(Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits, iii, 59, taken from Archives départementales des Bouches-du-Rhone, B2479, 59v).Google Scholar
9 See Appendix entry on Feragut for biographical details.Google Scholar
10 See entry 35 in the transcription.Google Scholar
11 See entry 36 in the transcription.Google Scholar
12 For more details on the careers of these chapel members, see their entries in the Appendix.Google Scholar
13 See Robin, F., La cour d'Anjou-Provence: la vie artistique sous le règne de René (Paris, 1985), for a consideration of the Italian links of the court.Google Scholar
14 See ibid., 60.Google Scholar
15 See Appendix entry.Google Scholar
16 For a discussion of various currencies and exchange rates, See Spufford, P., Handbook of Medieval Exchange (London, 1986). M. Miquel, Quand le bon roi était en Provence (1447–1480) (Paris, 1979) gives a breakdown of exchange rates during the period 1472–4, but most of the rates have changed by this time.Google Scholar
17 Spufford, Handbook, 193.Google Scholar
18 Spufford, Handbook, 185.Google Scholar
19 Spufford, Handbook, 179.Google Scholar
20 Spufford, Handbook, 180.Google Scholar
21 Spufford, Handbook, 187.Google Scholar
22 Sections of this first document may be found transcribed in Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits, 302–7.Google Scholar
23 Taken from Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits, 303.Google Scholar
24 Something interlined, but illegible.Google Scholar
25 I.e. cueillir.Google Scholar
26 laiete: a small box used especially to keep papers in archives (F. Godefroy, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle (1880–1902), iv, 700). Archives Nationales: Etat Géneral des fonds (Paris, 1978–88), i, 185 describes the layette as part of a system of organisation of the Trésor des Chartes of the French crown.Google Scholar
27 Obstacle (Godefroy, Dictionnaire, vi, 558).Google Scholar
28 Interlined.Google Scholar
29 et qui onn interlined.Google Scholar
30 ou nous et comme commis dessusdit written over an erasion.Google Scholar
31 octobre written over an erasion.Google Scholar
32 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar
33 de la mise … inclus written in a different hand.Google Scholar
34 xxcxxvii livres xv sols tournois crossed out.Google Scholar
35 xxxvij florins written over an erasion.Google Scholar
36 Someone who looks after the accounts (Godefroy, Dictionnaire, vi, 619).Google Scholar
37 Archivist (ibid., i, 382).Google Scholar
38 This amount does not agree with the initial amount in the entry of 1237 florins. As this initial amount is written over an erasion it is probable that this second amount was the original figure entered and that only the initial amount was corrected.Google Scholar
39 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
40 m iiiic ix livres xv sols tournois pour …vj d added.Google Scholar
41 A type of craftsman (Godefroy, Dictionnaire, v, 417).Google Scholar
42 Saint Maximin (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence).Google Scholar
43 Draguignan (Var).Google Scholar
44 Several of the names in this entry are difficult to read and it has proved impossible to trace them in the published accounts. I have therefore transcribed the letters that can be read and have made no attempt to extend the names.Google Scholar
45 As appears in the manuscript.Google Scholar
46 Which must be accepted (Godefroy, Dictionnaire, i, 42).Google Scholar
47 pour ce crossed out.Google Scholar
48 cy rendu interlined.Google Scholar
49 Interlined.Google Scholar
50 Although the figure is illegible, the exchange rate from escus means this must be the amount.Google Scholar
51 Two lines erased from the manuscript.Google Scholar
52 Interlined.Google Scholar
53 Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits, 305, nl, identifies this with Seigneulle (Meuse) in the Duchy of Bar.Google Scholar
54 vi deniers interlined.Google Scholar
55 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
56 Interlined.Google Scholar
57 xviij escus interlined.Google Scholar
58 xij escus interlined.Google Scholar
59 cinq escus interlined.Google Scholar
60 Interlined.Google Scholar
61 lesquelles parties … vj deniers written in a different hand.Google Scholar
62 dix crossed out. Only eight singers are mentioned in the entry and the amount for the entry, 110 livres, corresponds to 80 escus not 100 escus.Google Scholar
63 tournois crossed out.Google Scholar
64 Subtotal for the page, not referring to this entry.Google Scholar
65 iiiixx crossed out.Google Scholar
66 Interlined.Google Scholar
67 par… paie inserted from the right hand margin.Google Scholar
68 et xv sols interlined.Google Scholar
69 mil iiiic crossed out.Google Scholar
70 Interlined.Google Scholar
71 neuf escus crossed out.Google Scholar
72 ledit mandement crossed out.Google Scholar
73 The amount should read 471 livres.Google Scholar
74 Illegible, but the reading must be this.Google Scholar
75 Although the figure is difficult to read, the exchange rates and subtotal for the page both show this must be correct.Google Scholar
76 audit Pierre … escus interlined.Google Scholar
77 avecques … evesque added.Google Scholar
78 Interlined.Google Scholar
79 Interlined above dicelui which has been crossed out.Google Scholar
80 Insertion from the left hand margin.Google Scholar
81 d'Alencon crossed out and replaced with d'Orleans interlined.Google Scholar
82 Illegible insertion.Google Scholar
83 donne … deux inserted from the right hand margin.Google Scholar
84 The amount should read 63 livres 5 sols.Google Scholar
85 Prouvence crossed out.Google Scholar
86 Cardot teneurs underlined but possibly meant to be crossed out.Google Scholar
87 soixante douze interlined above quatre vingts quatre crossed out.Google Scholar
88 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar
89 de crossed out.Google Scholar
90 x is almost deleted.Google Scholar
91 juing is written over juillet.Google Scholar
92 Subtotal for the page, not for this entry.Google Scholar
93 ciiijxx iiij escus valient a livres tournois crossed out.Google Scholar
94 Donne crossed out.Google Scholar
93 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
96 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
97 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
98 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar
99 xiime … neuf added.Google Scholar
100 du crossed out.Google Scholar
101 pour ce en despense crossed out.Google Scholar
102 rendu … compte added.Google Scholar
103 pour ce a livres crossed out.Google Scholar
104 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar
105 Interlined.Google Scholar
106 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar
107 Cest… lii interlined.Google Scholar
108 The amount 110 livres should be entered here.Google Scholar
109 Contents of this folio crossed out.Google Scholar
110 livres crossed out.Google Scholar
111 ou … de inserted from right hand margin.Google Scholar
112 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar
113 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar
114 et demi erased but still legible.Google Scholar
115 au crossed out.Google Scholar
116 qui est demie annee par avant ce present compte crossed out.Google Scholar
117 mais pour ce qu’ il s’ est descharge en la despense ou chappitre de deniers comptez et non receuz crossed out.Google Scholar
118 cccc crossed out.Google Scholar
119 la reprent et fait cy entree de recepte ledit commis pour ce du revenu desdits tabliers pour ladite demie annee crossed out.Google Scholar
120 In Le Roi René, Actes du Colloque, p. 43, jug maige is described as the sovereign justice office in Provence.Google Scholar
121 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
122 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
123 Andre Raux et crossed out.Google Scholar
124 [c]m xxv florins crossed out. Subtotal in right hand margin as total for page.Google Scholar
125 de touz crossed out.Google Scholar
126 desdits altered from lesdits.Google Scholar
127 le dit crossed out.Google Scholar
128 Interlined.Google Scholar
129 d'avril crossed out.Google Scholar
130 prochain venant crossed out.Google Scholar
131 cinq crossed out.Google Scholar
132 quittance et crossed out.Google Scholar
133 pour ce crossed out.Google Scholar
134 contenant… ce added in a later hand.Google Scholar
135 et quittance expediee crossed out.Google Scholar
136 pour ce crossed out.Google Scholar
137 contenant… ce added in a later hand (the same hand and ink as 113 above).Google Scholar
138 Interlined.Google Scholar
139 pour ce cent… tournois written over an erasion.Google Scholar
140 leurs… juillet interlined above semble cause crossed out.Google Scholar
141 The amount should read 185 livres not 187.Google Scholar
142 Written over an erasion. Original name smaller.Google Scholar
143 Interlined above chantres crossed out.Google Scholar
144 Two lines of text and a subtotal erased.Google Scholar
143 Written over an erasion. From this point the text has been added, with a dotted line from the end of the entry to the relevant subtotal correcting the consequent misalignment of text and subtotals.Google Scholar
146 The amount entered has not been altered in line with the alterations in the text; the extra 10 escus added have not been accounted for.Google Scholar
147 contenant la written over an erasion. From this point the text has been added, with a dotted line from the end of the entry to the relevant subtotal correcting the consequent misalignment.Google Scholar
148 First x written over an erasion.Google Scholar
149 C'est … escus written over an erasion.Google Scholar
150 Only actually paid 10 escus.Google Scholar
151 Written over an erasion. From this point the text has been added, with a dotted line from the end of the entry to the relevant subtotal correcting the consequent misalignment.Google Scholar
152 de Sicile… seigneur written over an erasion.Google Scholar
153 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
154 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
155 Left blank.Google Scholar
156 cy crossed out.Google Scholar
157 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar
158 comme dessusdit written over an erasion.Google Scholar
159 Taken from right hand margin.Google Scholar
160 m cccc … appert written over an erasion.Google Scholar
161 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar
162 l'an m cccc… somme written over an erasion.Google Scholar
163 et neuf… livres written over an erasion.Google Scholar
164 contenant… chappelle added text in the same hand as the marginalia.Google Scholar
165 The folio total should be 181 livres 10 sols: the 33 livres and one of the 16 livres 10 sols are missing from the calculation.Google Scholar
166 Folio total should read 206 livres 5 sols.Google Scholar
167 Line left blank to fill in dates.Google Scholar
168 The whole of this entry has been crossed out.Google Scholar
169 a raison de written over an erasion and then a gap left.Google Scholar
170 The whole of this entry has been crossed out.Google Scholar
171 a paye … receveur written over an erasion.Google Scholar
172 quatre underlined and deux inserted above it.Google Scholar
173 The two amounts entered apply to the two entries for the number of escus paid.Google Scholar
174 See Perkins, L. L., ‘Musical Patronage at the Royal Court of France under Charles VII and Louis XI (1422–83)', Journal of the American Musicological Society, 37 (1984), 534, 548 and 554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
175 The motet is transcribed in C. van den Borren, Polyphonia Sacra, The Plainsong and Medieval Society (Burnham, 1932), 249–51.Google Scholar
176 For evidence of Feragut in Vicenza in 1409 See Mixter, K.E., ‘Feragut, Beltrame [Bertrand di Avignone]', The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (London, 1980), vi, 468.Google Scholar
177 F. A. d'Accone, “The Singers of San Giovanni in Florence during the Fifteenth Century', Journal of the American Musicological Society, 14 (1961), 307–58.Google Scholar
178 For transcription of this motet see van den Borren, Polyphonia, 257–61.Google Scholar
179 See Lockwood, L., Music in Renaissance Ferrara: 1400–1505 (Oxford, 1984), 34.Google Scholar
180 Lockwood, Music in Renaissance Ferrara, 35, citing Ferrara, Biblioteca Comunale Ariostea, MS Cl. I, 456, f. 35v: pro collacione cantori domine Bertrandi et aliorum cantorum domini Marchois qui cantaverunt in coro die dominico.Google Scholar
181 See d'Accone, “The Singers of San Giovanni', 310 and 351, citing Florence, Archivio dell’ Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, Allogazioni, I, 1, 4, f. 3V: Fratem Beltranum ordinis Sancti Agustini, cum salario librarum quatuor parvorum pro quolibet mense.Google Scholar
182 D'Accone, “The Singers of San Giovanni', 313.Google Scholar
183 Lockwood, Music in Renaissance Ferrara, 35.Google Scholar
184 See Perkins, ‘Musical Patronage', 544. For the year 1456–7 only numbers of chapel members are given, without names, but Perkins suggests that Fontenoy was present from this year.Google Scholar
185 Perkins, ‘Musical Patronage', 552.Google Scholar
186 See Marix, J., Histoire de la musique et des musiciens de la cour de Bourgogne sous le règne de Philippe le Bon (1420–1467) (Strasbourg, 1973), 251. In the accounts for the court he is referred to as both Jehan Hire and Jehan Hue dit l'Ecluse.Google Scholar
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